A financier’s plans to build a vast basement extension by digging under a
public road have been rejected after a campaign by neighbours including Ruby
Wax, the comedian, and Rachel Johnson, sister of the Mayor of London.

The owner hoped to create a second basement level to his £8 million, five storey home in Notting Hill, West London, featuring a family room, an office, a gym and a kitchen. Photo: NIGEL HOWARD

It said the extension would “not be of a sufficiently high quality design” to preserve or enhance the character of the building.

The decision was cautiously welcomed by opponents, although they noted that a renewed application would lead to “future battles to be fought”.

Miss Johnson, a journalist and author, said she was “pleased” with the council’s decision but added: “It’s not a win but it’s not a total fail.

“The committee refused the application on the grounds they could – but it is only the aesthetics that have been knocked back and I imagine this will rise quite quickly from the dead.

“It would set a most terrible precedent for building under public land. People are already saying they might build a gym under the pavement.”

Miss Wax has described the plans as “revolting”, warning that the “whose kitchen is largest” mentality needed to be stopped before it got out of control.

The designs for the property, which backs onto the communal gardens where the film Notting Hill was filmed, were initially rejected last November but resubmitted to comply with planning laws.

Thomas Croft Architects, the company behind the plans, said they were awaiting instructions from their client before deciding how to proceed.

Mr Croft said: “(The plans) were not rejected because of anything to do with subsidence or the pavement. The only thing that needs to be addressed is the design of the rear garden extension.”

He has previously insisted that they have “gone out of their way” to keep neighbours informed and seek their comments, adding: “A lot of subsidence in the area is caused by tree roots rather than land instability.

“Building under pavements is a perfectly normal practice and goes on in London all the time.”

Mr Hawtin, director at investment management firm GAM who currently lives in South Kensington, was unavailable for comment.